Anthurium andreanum plant named &#39;Anthbnzl&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Anthurium  plant named ‘Anthbnzl’, as described and illustrated, and particular characterized by the combined features of Compact plant growth and very early and rich flowering; mini-type pot plant, maximum growth to approximately 55 cm; long and erect peduncle, flowers held just above the foliage; open plant habit due to little shoot formation; dark green leaves, durable with light green primary veins; red and very durable flowers, remaining red until they die; and large amount of flowers in relation to the amount of leaves resulting in an excellent leaf to flower size ratio.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Anthurium andreanum L.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

Anthbnzl

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Anthbnzl’ is a new and distinct cultivar of Anthurium, botanically known as Anthurium andreanum L. The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program, and was obtained from a cross made during such a program in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, in 1995.

The female or seed parent was a pink-colored Anthurium pot plant identified as number 94-629-06 (unpatented). The male or pollen parent was an orange-colored flowering Anthurium pot plant identified as number 95-00-251 (proprietary, unpatented). ‘Anthbnzl’ was discovered and selected as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by the inventor, Jan van Dijk, in November 1997 in a controlled environment in a glasshouse in Bleiswijk.

Subsequent asexual reproduction by tissue culture at the same location has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and in combination distinguish ‘Anthbnzl’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Compact plant growth and very early and rich flowering;

2. Mini-type pot plant, maximum growth to approximately 55 cm;

3. Long and erect peduncle, flowers held just above the foliage;

4. Open plant habit due to little shoot formation;

5. Dark green leaves, durable with light green primary veins;

6. Red and very durable flowers, remaining red until they die; and

7. Large amount of flowers in relation to the amount of leaves resulting in an excellent leaf to flower size ratio.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

The accompanying photographs, taken in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, show typical ‘Anthbnzl’ specimens. FIG. 1 is a side-view of ‘Anthbnzl’ showing flowers held just above the leaf canopy and showing the open plant structure.

FIG. 2 is a close-up of an ‘Anthbnzl’ flower showing the spathe and spadix with pollen.

FIG. 3 is a close-up of ‘Anthbnzl’ flowers at three different stages of development: from young on the left to old on the right. The youngest flower has an unripe spadix (pistils are just visible at the base and pollen is not visible yet). The flower in the middle has a ripe spadix with a small amount of pollen. The spathe of the old flower on the right becomes brown-red, starting in the lobes. Between the left and the right flowers is a difference in age of approximately 8 to 10 weeks.

FIG. 4 is a close-up of the top a young (left) and old leaf blade (right) showing the difference between the vein color of young and old leaf blades. It also shows that the young leaf blades are more shiny then the old leaf blades.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, under greenhouse conditions, which closely approximate those generally used in horticultural practice.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S) Colour Chart, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color references are approximate, as color depends to a degree on horticultural practices such as light level and degree of fertilization, among others. The color values were determined between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Mar. 25, 2003, under 5000 lux natural light in a glasshouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The phenotype may vary significantly when grown under different conditions of temperature, light or other determining factors, without a change in genotype of the plant.

-   Propagation: Asexual propagation by means of tissue culture and all     subsequent propagation that flowered have been true to the original     type in plant and flower characteristics. -   Plant description: Approximately 53-58 weeks following division,     ‘Anthbnzl’ will reach a mature size of approximately 45 cm to 55 cm     in height and approximately 35 cm to 45 cm in width in a 17 cm pot. -   Leaves:     -   -   Form.—The leaf blade is elliptical — cordate with an             acuminate tip and a cordate base. The leaf blade angle with             the petiole between 80 and 110 degrees. ‘Anthbnzl’ makes             larger leaf blades as it ages. ‘Anthbnzl’ also could produce             some axillary shoots with smaller leaf blades. Therefore, a             wide range in leaf blade length and width is found on each             plant. The minimum leaf blade length is approximately 6 cm             and the maximum leaf blade length is approximately 25 cm.             The minimum leaf blade width is approximately 4 cm and the             maximum leaf blade width is approximately 14 cm.         -   Texture.—The leaf blades are leatherly and thick. The mature             leaf blades are weakly cupped.         -   Veins.—The mid-vein and primary veins (the veins which             radiate out from the juncture of the petiole and leaf)             protude at the underside of the leaf blade. The colour of             the veins is light green on the upper side of the leave (RHS             144A) and on the lower side of the leave (RHS 144D). The             veins contrast very well with the darker green colour of the             leaves.         -   Leaf blade-color.—Young leaf blade (approximately maximum 2             weeks old) upper surface is green (RHS 146A). Mature leaf             blade (approximately more than 4 weeks upper surface is dark             green (RHS 147A) and the lower surface is green (RHS 146A).         -   Lobes.—A leaf blade has two small lobes extending past the             petiole. The distance between the petiole and leaf juncture             to the highest point on the lobes of mature leaf blades             (width 14 cm, length 25 cm) ranges approximately from 5 to 7             cm.         -   Petiole.—The color of the petiole of a mature leaf blade is             green (RHS 146A). The petiole color of an immature leaf             blade is light green (RHS 144A). The cross section of the             petiole is round and the diameter is approximately 3 to             4 mm. The color of the cataphyls surrounding the petioles is             green (RHS 143C) with a brown margin (RHS 175A-B) . -   Spathe:     -   -   Buds.—The spathe is tightly rolled around the spadix and             extrudes from the peduncle sheath. After the spathe is fully             open the peduncle elongates for a few more centimeters.         -   Size.—The completely developed spathe of a 50 cm tall plant             is approximately 14 cm long and approximately 12 cm to 14 cm             wide. The spathe could develop with green lobes or edge             (obake), which is not a very stable characteristic             throughout the year. If the spathe develops with green lobes             or edge, the width of the spathe could increase by some             centimeters.         -   Color.—When the spathe is just fully open the upper surface             is red (RHS 53B) and the lower surface is grey-red (RHS             179A). Approximately 7 to 8 weeks after the opening of the             spathe it starts to discolor to brown-red (RHS 166A),             starting with the lobes. After approximately another 16 to             20 weeks the complete flower will be brown. The flowers will             stay on the plant for a very long period of time.         -   Arrangement.—The spathe angle to the peduncle is between 80             and 100 degrees. The spathe stand on a straight wiry             peduncle approximately 6 cm to 12 cm above the foliage. The             peduncle cross-section is round and the diameter             approximately 4 mm to 5 mm, depending on the age of the             plant. The peduncle is erect and its length depends on the             age of the plant. It ranges from approximately 20 to 40 cm.         -   Shape.—The spathe is cordate with a mucronate tip and a             cordate base. A just fully opened spathe is slightly             cup-shaped. As the flower ages the tip bends upwards             slightly. If the spathe develops with green lobes or a green             edge (obake) the width of the flower is increased             considerably. -   Flowering time: One small untreated tissue culture plant of     approximately 2 cm tall will flower, depending on season, after     approximately 14 to 15 months when approximately 2 to 3 blossoms     will appear. More blossoms appear some week later so that a full     flowering and salable plant can have 4 to 10 red flowers. Smaller     blossoms may occur on less mature growth. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Size.—The spadix measures approximately 5 to 7 cm in height.             The length of the spadix is smaller than the length of the             spathe. The spadix is a columnar. The width of a mature             spadix that is approximately 7 cm long is approximately 10             mm at the base and approximately 8 mm to 9 mm at the top.             The spadix angle with spathe is approximately 50 to 70             degrees.         -   Color.—At the time the spathe unrolls the spadix is unripe.             Later as the spadix matures, pistils become visible and             pollen is produced. An unripe spadix is orange-yellow (RHS             17A) and a ripe spadix is creamy-white (RHS 11D). As the             spadix matures (from base to tip) it becomes creamy white.             Berries exist on the spadix once pistils have been             pollinated.         -   Stamens.—Anthers and filaments are not clearly visible on             the spadix.         -   Pollen.—Large amount of pollen production, white in color.         -   Pistil.—An unripe pistil is orange-yellow (RHS 17A) and a             ripe pistil is creamy-white (RHS 11D). The pistil protrudes             from the spadix. -   Roots: Yellow-white roots with smaller hairy laterals. The root-tips     are yellow. -   Disease/Pest resistance: No known resistance and/or susceptibility     to diseases and pests. 

1. A new and distinct Anthurium plant named ‘Anthbnzl’, as herein described and illustrated. 